Old Zhou’s General Store: Everything for Immortal Cultivation

Zhou Buxian quit his job without another one lined up. At 26, he had no partner, no mortgage because he couldn’t afford a home, and nowhere to go. His grandfather had left him an old general store, so he took it over. Dust coated the shop. The shelves held glass marbles, bubble gum, sewing needles, and a few packets of expired instant noodles. A talking turtle squatted in the corner, claiming it owed his grandfather a three-hundred-year noodle debt and refusing to leave. Zhou Buxian figured this was probably the most ridiculous thing that would ever happen to him. Later, he discovered the ridiculousness had only just begun. A cold, aloof sword cultivator who rode a kitchen knife came in looking for a “spirit weapon.” Zhou Buxian handed her a stainless-steel cleaver. She gave it a try, sliced through the corner of a table like it was tofu, and immediately ordered a hundred. A socially anxious cultivator was too shy to come inside, so they slipped in a note to buy white candles. A few broken spirit stones were stuck to the back, and the note ended with “Please.” A rogue alchemist came looking for a fire-control artifact. Zhou Buxian brought out his grandfather’s old induction stove and called it an ancient treasure for controlling fire: nine power settings at the touch of a button, with precise temperature control. The alchemist tried it, fell to his knees, and emptied his pockets of spirit stones, even slapping down the ones hidden in his hair bun. A junior sister who was always cold came in to buy heat patches. She told her fellow disciples about them, one by one, and soon they all came to buy some. Looking at the empty shelves and drawers full of spirit stones, Zhou Buxian began to think for the first time that maybe this shop really could make money. Gui Xuanchen squatted on the doorstep, slurping instant noodles. “Your grandfather was just like this. At first, he only sold candles and sewing supplies. Then one day, a cultivator brought an entire sect here.” Zhou Buxian didn’t answer. He was wondering whether he should ask the wholesaler at the market to give him a better membership price.